Relating to the regulation of specified gas and electric utilities

This bill relates to the regulatory authority of the Iowa utilities board regarding specified gas and electric utilities. The bill provides that municipally owned gas or utility companies, electric public utilities having less than 10,000 customers, and electric cooperative corporations and associations shall not be subject to the regulation authority of the board except for the assessment of fees for the support of the office of consumer advocate, safety standards, assigned areas of service, public utility railroad crossings, procedures for the disconnection of service, alternative energy program plans filed with the board, specified civil penalties, energy cost information, distributed generation interconnection safety, utility-owned exterior flood lighting, customer contribution funds, and electric power generation and transmission under Code chapter 476A and electric transmission lines under Code chapter 478. 21. This provision is inapplicable to municipal utilities. The bill provides that an electric cooperative not subject to rate regulation may elect to have their rates regulated by the board. After two years, rate regulation may be reconsidered. If the membership of the electric cooperative chooses to have the rates regulated, only the membership may elect to be exempt from regulation.102. The bill provides that electric public utilities with less than 10,000 customers and electric cooperative corporations and associations shall not make or grant any unreasonable preferences or advantages as to rates or services to any person or subject any person to any unreasonable prejudice or disadvantage.6. Rate-regulated public utilities shall give written notice to customers of a proposed rate increase or charge no more than days prior to filing an application for a proposed increase. The notice from the rate-regulated public utility shall include a provision whereby customers are informed of rights to file an objection and request a hearing. The bill provides electric public utilities with less than 10,000 customers and electric cooperative corporations and associations that are not subject to rate regulation by the board shall give written notice to customers regarding a proposed rate increase or charge at least days before the effective date of the increase.84. The bill establishes a written complaint and response process. Both the board and the division of the office of the consumer advocate may determine if the utility’s response is inadequate and initiate further action. The bill establishes practices and procedures for a formal action filed by complainants. The bill provides that the board shall adopt rules establishing procedures and requirements for public utilities supplying gas or electricity and to utilities over which the board’s jurisdiction is limited by the bill relating to the disconnection of service. These rules must be uniform for all rate-regulated public utilities.